At least 20 Malian soldiers, including a base commander, have been killed following a brutal assault by suspected militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) on a military base in northern Mali.
According to security sources quoted by Zagazola Makama, the attack occurred on Friday in the town of Soumpi, located in the Tombouctou region. The insurgents reportedly stormed the base on motorcycles and trucks, engaging Malian troops in fierce gunfire that lasted several hours.
The militants eventually overpowered the soldiers, inflicting heavy casualties before looting the base. Weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment were carted away as the attackers retreated from the area.
Several soldiers were also reported injured or missing after the assault, as reinforcement units were later deployed to secure the area. The reinforcement teams evacuated the bodies of the fallen troops and provided medical assistance to the wounded.
The latest incident underscores the growing insecurity in northern Mali, where extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have continued to target military outposts and civilians. JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate operating across the Sahel, has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks on Malian forces and allied security units in recent years.
Despite ongoing counterterrorism operations, Mali continues to face escalating violence as militants exploit weak state presence in remote regions. The attack in Soumpi adds to the string of violent incidents undermining stability in the war-torn West African nation.
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